Sliding glass panel

ABSTRACT

The disclosure herein describes a sliding glass panel structure which comprises a double-glazed hermetically sealed unit, a pair of vertically disposed reinforcing members secured to the two opposite sides of the unit and a pair of adjustable roller support assemblies, each mounted at the lower end of each reinforcing member. A surrounding frame is no longer required; hence, the sliding glass panel of the invention becomes a structural self-contained unit which is sufficiently rigid to maintain the mechanical stability expected of sliding glass panels.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,748,784

Smits 1 51 July 31, 1973 SLIDING GLASS PANEL 3,425,163 2/1969 Horgan, Jr 49/425 Inventor: Denis L. Smits, St Hilaire, Q 3,512,209 5/1970 Povoden l6/l05 Canada Primary Examiner-Kenneth Downey [73] Assignee: Superseal Corporation, Quebec, Attorney- -Cushman, Darby & Cushman Canada 22 Filed: on. 6, 1971 [571 ABSTRACT d The disclosure herein describes a sli ing glass panel [2]] Appl' 186331 structure which comprises a double-glazed hermetically sealed unit, a pair of vertically disposed reinforc- [52] 0.8. CI. 49/425, 16/105 s members secured to h t pp s te sid s of the [51] Int. Cl. E050 13/02 unit and a p of adjustable roller pp assemblies, [58] Field of Search 49/420, 425; 16/105; each mounted at h lower end of each fo c g 52/207 member. A surrounding frame is no longer required; hence, the sliding glass panel of the invention becomes [56] Refer n es Cit d a structural self-contained unit which is sufficiently UNITED STATES PATENTS rigid to maintain the mechanical stability expected of 2,507,497 5/1950 Bowers 49/425 Sldmg glass panels 2,784,445 3/1957 Greig et a1. 16/105 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUUHQB 3,748784 sum 1 0F 2 r INVENTOR o S; Denis L. SM/TS PATENIED M3 1 SHEET 2 BF 2 I I I l l .IIILZ lN VE N TOR Denis L. SM TS BY w,

1 SLIDING GLASS PANEL This invention relates to sliding glass panels; more particularly, the invention relates to an improved dualpane glazed unit for sliding within a wall frame.

Dual-pane glazed units which are presently used comprise essentially two sheets of glass arranged in spaced parallel relationship to provide an insulating air film or air space therebetween; spacers are adhered to the glass sheet along their inner marginal edge portions by means of an adhesive sealing compound and a peripheral clamping framework is placed around the outer marginal edges of the assembled glass sheets. In order to ensure considerable structural strength, these sliding door panels are provided with a rigid metal reinforcing frame rendering the panels heavy and bulky.

It is an object of this invention to provide a sliding glass panel which is self-contained in that it does not require an independent surrounding framework or sash for the purpose of supporting and retaining the dualpane glazed unit.

It is another object of this invention to provide a sliding glass panel where the dual-pane glazed unit is structural and sturdy and where any additional structural components added to the glazed unit is supported by the dual-pane glazed unit.

The improved movably mounted panel structure of the present invention is simple in design, economical of manufacture, durable in construction and easily installed.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a sliding glass panel with a roller support assembly which is adjustable so that the glass panel is maintained in a proper relationship in its installed position in a window or door frame.

The present invention relates to a sliding glass-panel for use in a window or door frame which comprises, in its broadest aspect, a double-glazed hermetically sealed unit consisting of a pair of glass panes arranged in spaced parallel relationship and a hollow dissicantcontaining spacer disposed between the inner marginal edges of the panes and sealingly connected thereto to form a self-contained sealed unit; the glass panel also comprises a pair of vertically disposed reinforcing members secured to the two opposite sides of the unit, and a pair of roller support assemblies mounted at the lower end of each reinforcing member; each assembly includes a support member fixed to the reinforcing member, a roller mounted for rotation in the support member, and means for effecting the vertical adjustment of the unit when the glass panel is mounted within the window or door frame.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like or corresponding parts throughout:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the sliding glass panel the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevation view of the sliding panel shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view of a roller support assembly shown in a vertically adjusted position; and

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a novel sliding glass panel 10 comprising a double-glazed hermetically sealed unit 12 consisting of a pair of glass panes l4 and 16 arranged in spaced parallel relationship and of a hollow spacer 18 disposed between the inner marginal edges of the panes and along all four sides thereof. As shown in FIG. 4, spacer 16 contains a weather dissicant 20 and is provided with suitable openings such as slit 22 to permit communication between the dissicant 18 and the air space between the panes 14 and 16. The panes l4 and 16 are secured to the spacer 18 by a suitable weather sealant 24, such as a high molecular weight hydrocarbon polymer produced by polymerizing isobutylene. The dual-pane glazed unit 12 is self-contained in that it does not require an independent surrounding framework or sash for purpose of retaining and supporting the panes and giving rigidity to the structure. Thus, the present dualpane unit avoids the use of a heavy sliding metal reinforcing frame that surrounds the glazed unit such as employed prior to the present invention.

Panel 10 further includes a pair of rigid vertical reinforcing members 26 and 26' disposed along two opposite sides of the unit 12; these members have a U- shaped frame with a web portion 27 and two opposite side walls 28 and 29 which receive the outer marginal edges of the two opposite sides of the unit 12. A structural adhesive material 30 seals the metal members 26 and 26' to the double-glazed unit 12. One of the members 26' is provided with a series of holes 32 for securing a handle (not shown) thereto.

The glass panel 10 further includes a pair of roller support assemblies 34 and 34' mounted at the lower end of the reinforcing members 26 and 26'. Each assembly consists of a U-shaped sheet metal having parallel side walls 40 and 42 and a rear wall 44 which is suitably fixed, such as by welding, to the inside wall 46 of web 27. Between side walls 40 and 42 a roller-carrying yoke-like housing 48 is disposed and includes parallel walls 50 and 52 and rear wall 54. Between side walls 50 and 52 of housing 48, a grooved roller 56 is mounted for rotation about axle 58 which completely traverses the assembly 34. The rear wall 54 of housing 48 receives therethrough an adjusting screw or bolt 60 which further extends through rear wall 44 and web portion 27. The head 62 (see FIG. 3) is adapted to receive a screw-driver or other like instrument. Walls 40 and 42 include at their front portion respective fingers 64 and 66 which have their contacting extremities welded to thereby prevent walls 40 and 42 to separate. Although not essentially so, these fingers will also serve as base support for the unit 12. The side walls 40 and 42 are each provided with an aligned slot which has an upwardly extending'portion 70 and a rearwardly and downwardly extending portion 72; portion 70 serves as a passageway for axle 58 when the housing 48 is installed or removed from the assembly while portion 72 of the slot serves for effecting a vertical adjustment of the panel, as hereinbelow described.

The above description relating to the roller assembly 34 also applies to the other opposite roller assembly 34' and a description of the latter will not be given, the structure being the same and the reference numeral indicating similar parts thereof with the indication of a prime to differentiate it from that of roller assembly 34.

A descriptionof the vertical adjustment of the panel will now be given with reference to FIG. 3 and it will be assumed that the glass panel needs to be raised relative to the rail 76 for proper fitting in the window or door frame. By actuating screw 62, the roller-carrying housing 48 moves toward the left as indicated by arrow 74 causing the axle 58 of roller 56 to further move in portion 72 of the slot. Axle 58 contacts the upper surface 78 of slot 72 to thereby create a cooperating cam action which causes the unit 12, reinforcing 26 and support member 34 to move upwardly. It is evident that when it is wished to have the sliding panel lowered, the screw is turned in the opposite direction. The angle displacement of screw 60 in relation to the reinforcing member 26 is permitted by having the opening 80, extending through wall 44 and web portion 27, to be slightly greater than the diameter of the screw 60. Lateral adjustment of housing 48 within walls 40 and 42 is permitted by the horizontally elongated opening 80 (FIG. 1).

Although the invention has been described above in relation to one specific form of the invention, it is evident that it may be refined and modified in various ways without departing from its scope. For example, the reinforcing members 26 and 26 are preferably covered with a resilient material having low thermal conductivity. It is therefore wished to have it understood that the present invention is not limited in interpretation except by the terms of the following claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A sliding glass panel for use in a window or door frame comprising a double-glazed hermetically sealed unit consisting of a pair of glass panes arranged in spaced parallel relationship and of a hollow dissicantcontaining spacer disposed between the inner marginal edges of said panes and sealingly connected thereto to form a self-contained sealed unit; a pair of vertically disposed reinforcing members secured to two opposite sides of said unit each of said reinforcing members comprising a U-shaped frame having a web portion and two opposite walls receiving therein the marginal edges of said sealed unit; and a pair of roller support assemblies mounted at the lower end of each said reinforcing member, each said assembly including a support member fixedly attached to said reinforcing member, each said support member having a pair of parallel spaced sidewalls and a rear wall fixedly secured to the web portion of said reinforcing member, camming slots in said sidewalls, each said slot terminating at one end at the lower edges of said sidewalls, a yoke-like housing member, a roller mounted for rotation on an axle, said axle fixed in said housing and extending outwardly from both sides thereof and extending into said camming slots in said support member sidewalls, and a threaded fastening member extending through said support member and threadingly engaging said housing member so that said housing member can be drawn along said camming slots thereby selectively raising the glass panel unit.

2. A sliding glass panel as defined in claim 1 further comprising an adhesive weather sealant for securing said U-shaped reinforcing member to said selfcontained unit.

3. A sliding glass panel as defined in claim 1 wherein said reinforcing member is provided with an opening for receiving said fastening member therethrough, said slot having a horizontal elongated shape to enable a lateral displacement of said housing between said side walls of said support member.

t III III II t 

1. A sliding glass panel for use in a window or door frame comprising a double-glazed hermetically sealed unit consisting of a pair of glass panes arranged in spaced parallel relationship and of a hollow dissicant-containing spacer disposed between the inner marginal edges of said panes and sealingly connected thereto to form a self-contained sealed unit; a pair of vertically disposed reinforcing members secured to two opposite sides of said unit each of said reinforcing members comprising a U-shaped frame having a web portion and two opposite walls receiving therein the marginal edges of said sealed unit; and a pair of roller support assemblies mounted at the lower end of each said reinforcing member, each said assembly including a support member fixedly attached to said reinforcing member, each said support member having a pair of parallel spaced sidewalls and a rear wall fixedly secured to the web portion of said reinforcing member, camming slots in said sidewalls, each said slot terminating at one end at the lower edges of said sidewalls, a yoke-like housing member, a roller mounted for rotation on an axle, said axle fixed in said housing and extending outwardly from both sides thereof and extending into said camming slots in said support member sidewalls, and a threaded fastening member extending through said support member and threadingly engaging said housing member so that said housing member can be drawn along said camming slots thereby selectively raising the glass panel unit.
 2. A sliding glass panel as defined in claim 1 further comprising an adhesive weather sealant for securing said U-shaped reinforcing member to said self-contained unit.
 3. A sliding glass panel as defined in claim 1 wherein said reinforcing member is provided with an opening for receiving said fastening member therethrough, said slot having a horizontal elongated shape to enable a lateral displacement of said housing between said side walls of said support member. 